The Fish Wrap: June 2006
From The Koi Club of the Air
The hosts of the Koi Club of the Air had a terrific time this month sharing news about the hobby with numerous terrific guests from clubs around the country.
Tom Gladney, president of the Greater Louisville Koi & Goldfish Society shared details of their 11th Annual Show on May 27 & 28. The venue was the home of Charles & Carolyn Phelps who themselves are thoroughly qualified to judge a show anywhere except in their home club. That pleasure was delegated to two terrific judges, Norman Call of Oregon and Joe White of Florida. Check out the historic Louisville club at http://www.louisvillekoiclub.com.
Jennifer Walker, show committee member and officer for the Dallas Koi Kichi Club shared with everyone details of their 4th Annual Show to be held June 3-4. We missed the opportunity to ask her about the trip to Japan to purchase koi with Tom, but maybe next time. Their show is quite prestigious with a ribbon cutting by the Mayor and Chamber of Commerce to open the show. An official proclamation will change the name of their town of Colleyville to Koileyville for the day! Check them out at http://www.dallaskoikichi.org. They visit lots of other club events far from Texas and do a great job of covering such in their newsletter that is available online.
Joe Pawlak, president of Blackwater Creek Koi Farm shared some extraordinary insights into commercial breeding, culling, and much more. He shared how he and his wife got started in aquaculture, developing ties with Japanese koi breeding heavyweights, growing their farm, and much more. Check them out at http://www.koisale.com.
Janon Alegre, president of the Las Vegas Koi Club shared with the audience that their May pond tour was a success and she let us announce their first Koi Show will be held in October of this year. They request help from everyone willing and able to assist at one of the finest tourist destinations in the United States. Keep an eye on this new club as they gain steam with many motivated experienced hobbyists moving into their area and many more coming into the hobby with large numbers of ponds being constructed in the Las Vegas area. More details on the happenings of this exciting club at their newest website http://www.lasvegaskoiclub.com after its June 1 launch.
Bob Hart representing the Shasta Koi & Water Garden Club described their anticipation with the approach of their seventh pond tour coming up on June 10. Not only do visitors to the eight ponds on the tour get the chance to see a variety of beautiful ponds and learn from these hobbyists in the Redding, California area, but the club benefits the local 4H Club providing them half of their annual proceeds. Check them out at http://www.shastakoi.com.
Longtime koi hobbyist Norman Call representing the Oregon Koi and Water Garden Society is making final preparations for that club’s sixth annual koi show in Roseburg, Oregon. Norman, also known as “The Pin Man” due to his development of so much beautiful artwork circulating in collections of koi hobbyists shared with listeners some of his 35 year history in the hobby. Along with preparing for the Oregon show Norman judged the Greater Louisville Koi & Goldfish Society Koi Show. Check the club out at http://www.oregonkws.org.
Todo also shared details of the North Florida Koi Club pond tour, a two-day event featuring 16 ponds held in May. They made money and gained numerous new members during two beautiful Florida weather days. Shows and pond tours are the big events each year for most clubs as Todo said. “It is a lot of work, but we love it,” Todo said. Check the North Florida Koi Club out at http://www.nfkc.info.
Some of what is coming in June: Interviews about pond tours and more with Chester Bailey of the Indiana Koi Club(http://207.36.38.45/ikc/main.htm), Steve Johnson with the Rocky Mountain Koi Club(http://www.rmkc.org), Robert Lewis with the Charleston Showa Club (http://www.charlestonshowakoiclub.org), and Lois Salaun of the First Coast Koi & Water Garden Club (http://www.firstcoastkoiclub.com). All these terrific clubs will share how they do pond tours and more in June.
Thanks to all the club representatives that share news of their events and more! And remember to contact the Koi Club of the Air to help your club get the word out about your next event.
Happy ponding!
John & Todo hosts of the Koi Club of the Air
www.KoiCluboftheAir.org
